In the early 1990s, McLaren set out to build the ultimate road car—not necessarily the fastest. But the McLaren F1 XP5, a prototype for what would become the most legendary supercar of its era, went on to annihilate speed records and redefine performance forever.
The Birth of XP5
XP5 was the last of five McLaren F1 prototypes, finished in Dark Metallic Green with a Grey interior and a Black driver’s seat with Green inserts. Originally built as a test and promotional vehicle, XP5 was driven by automotive journalists worldwide, gaining a reputation for its unmatched performance, engineering, and exclusivity.
Breaking the 240 MPH Barrier
McLaren first tested the F1’s potential in 1993 when XP3 hit 231 mph at Nardò, but the track’s circular layout limited its true top speed.
On March 31, 1998, McLaren took XP5 to Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien Proving Ground. With Le Mans-winning driver Andy Wallace behind the wheel, XP5 set the official Guinness World Record for the fastest production car at 240.1 mph (386.4 km/h)—destroying the Jaguar XJ220’s previous 217 mph record.
A Legend That Still Stands
Though the Bugatti Veyron and others eventually surpassed the F1’s top speed, XP5 remains the fastest naturally aspirated production car ever built. Even today, no modern supercar with a naturally aspirated engine has matched its performance.